Water-heating controlling device



Aug. 13, 1929. R. R. ROOT 1,724,804

WATER HEATING CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed March 6. 1922 10(37Zf071 03 fiMMHZM Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES RALPH R. ROOT, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

WATER-HEATING CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Application filed March a, 1922. Serial No. 541,472.

The present invention relates to a device and the combination thereofwith a water tank for controllin the heating of the water within the tanto maintain the water 6 at a desired temperature.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which may beassociated with water tanks of usual construction and applied to theoutside of a water tank, thereby necessitating no trapping of the watertank to permit insertion of the device as is required when using devicesof similar nature.

Reference should be had to the accompanymg drawings forming a part ofthis 1 specification, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a water tank, awater heater and the controlling device; Fig. 2 is an elevation withportions in section of the controlling device, and its application to afuel line; Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the water tank in section withthe controlling device applied; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a portionof the tank with the controlling device applied.

Referring to the drawings, 1, indicates a water tank which may be ofusual or any preferred construction, 2 represents a water heater .of anydesired type which may be heated by gas or any other fluid fuel.

In the present instance, the heating device a0 is a gas burner 3 whichis supplied with gas throu h a pipe 4. The water heater 2 is connectewit the water container in the usual fashion or in any desired andapproved way.

Associated with the fuel pipe 4 is a valve which is generally indicatedat 5. This valve comprises a body portion with an inner partition 6 inwhich is a valve seat 7 and a valve 8 which is adapted to co-operatewith said seat thereby to control the passage of a fluid through theseat. m g

' The valve casing has a neck 9 which is interiorly threaded, and thisco-operates with a. nut 10 which has a flange 11 and between the flange11 and the end of the neck 9 there 46 is held a casing 12.

This casing has at its outer portion a flange 13 and overlying theflange 13 is a diaphragm 14 which in the present instance is made oflight gauge metal corrugated to make it more 60 flexible.

The valve 8 is carried upon a valve stem 8, and this valve stem is ajustablysecured to the diaphragm 14. In the present lnstance this isaccomplished by securing a block 15 to the inner side of the diaphragm14 and providing the same with a threaded opening which receives thethreaded end of the valve stem 8. Relative movement of the valve stem 8and the block 15 will provide an adustment for the valve 8 with respectto the valve seat 7.

A cover member 12 is provided which has a flange at the edge thereof,the same overlying the edge of the diaphragm 14, and by any suitablemeans such as by bolts and nuts as indicated at 16, the flange 13 on theeasing 12, the edge of the diaphragm 14, and the flange on the cover 12are secured together and form a tight joint.

Extending through the .cover 12 is one end of a tube 17, the inside ofthe tube communicating with the space between the cover 12 and thediaphragm 14. This tube 17 may be of any desired length, and in order toobtain increased surface for contact with the water container a portionof the tube 17 may be formed into a coil such as indicated at 18.

The end of the tube 17 opposite to that which co-operates with the cover12 is closed, and within the tube and the space between the cover 12 andthe diaphragm 14 there is placed a fluid which is sensitive to heat andwill respond readily and quickly to the presence of heat by theexpansion of the fluid and the quick contraction of the same when theheat is removed. A fluid which is suitable for the urpose is ether, butI do not confine myself to this substance only.

The tube 17 or a part thereof is brought into contact with the outsidesurface of the water container 1, and for the purpose of securingcontact between the tube 17 and the water container I provide a holdingdevice which consists of a part 19 that co-operates with the tube 17 ora portion thereof, such as the coil portion 18. This holding member 19is retained on the water container by means of a holding device 20 whichextends around the water container, and as a part'thereof ma have a coilspring 21 which will resilient hold the member 19 in position.

T e member 19 also serves to protect the tube 17 or at least, the partthereof which is in contact with the water container from the influenceof the surrounding air, so that the tube 17 is substantially onlyaffected by the heat transferred to it from the water within thewateroontainer through the wall of the container itself.

In order to modify the sensitiveness of the device, a sheet of paper. orother material may be inserted between the tube 17 or the portionthereof contained within the member 19, which will serve to make thedevice slower in responding to the heat change which may take place inthe water within the water container 1.

The position or place of contact between the tube 17 and the watercontainer will determine the amount of hot water which will be containedwithin the water container. If the tube 17 be placed in contact with thewater container at the lower part of the Water container, then thequantity of hot water maintained within the water tank will berepresented by the capacity of the tank from the top to the place wherethe tube 17 is contacting therewith. The same is true for any otherposition of the tube 17.

In operation the gas or other fuel being supplied to the water heater 2will cause the water to heat and accumulate in the water tank 1. As thewater in the tank 1 becomes heated it will affect the liquid within thetube 17 causing it to expand, and thereby moving the diaphragm 14 in adirection to seat the valve 8, and thus shut off the supply of fuel tothe water heating tank 2. When the temperature of the water becomeslower than the fluid within the pipe 17 contracts and the diaphragm 14returning to its initial position unseats the valve 8 and permits thepassage of fuel to the burner of the water heater 2.

By placing a sheet of paper or other substance between the pipe 17 andthe outer surface of the water container as shown at 25 in Fig. 4 thefluid within the pipe 17 is slower to respond, that is to say, the waterin the tank will reach a higher temperature before it affects the fluidwithin the pipe 17 Therefore, and in this manner, the temperature atwhich the water within the tank is to be maintained may be veryeffectually controlled.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A thermostatic device forcontrolling a valve in the gas pipe leading to a burner for heatingWater in a container comprising a member having a chamber with aflexible diaphragm connected to the valve and supported on said pipe anda flexible tubular extension extending laterally from said chamber,connected therewith and supported thereby, said tubular extension andchamber being filled with a thermally responsive substance, and saidextension terminating in a substantially flat spiral coil adapted to beheld in contact with the outer surface of the container, and acup-shaped holding member detachably secured to-the container andenclosing said coil. 2. A thermostatic device for controlling theoperation of a device for heating water in a container comprising achamber having a flexible diaphragm wall and a tube communicating at itsinner end with the interior of said chamber and closed at its outer end,the outer portion of said tube being bent into a flat spiral coiladapted to lie against a wall of the container, said chamber and tubebeing filled with a thermally responsive substance. In testimonywhereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

RALPH R. ROOT.

